ISLAMABAD — The Prime Minister’s Review Committee on Gilgit-Baltistan, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, has outlined a major strategic roadmap to enhance fiscal autonomy, upgrade clean energy infrastructure, and improve governance across the region.

Constituted on the directives of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the review committee evaluated GB’s critical development priorities, energy transmission networks, fiscal sustainability, and public service delivery.

1. NFC-Based Resource-Sharing Framework

To guarantee fair, equitable, and predictable resource allocation for Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), the committee resolved to develop a formal financial resource-sharing framework based on National Finance Commission (NFC) principles.

• High-Level Committee Formed: Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal directed the creation of a specialized committee tasked with submitting recommendations within one month for submission to the Prime Minister.
• Committee Membership: The panel includes the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, the Leader of the Opposition in the GB Assembly, the Minister for Kashmir Affairs & GB, the Attorney General for Pakistan, alongside representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Law & Justice, and Inter-Provincial Coordination.

2. Federal Budgetary Support & Wheat Subsidies

Addressing long-standing local economic concerns, the federal delegation confirmed that issues surrounding the wheat subsidy have been effectively resolved, with federal financial assistance continuing uninterrupted.

• 87% Funding Increase: Federal budgetary support for Gilgit-Baltistan has expanded by 87% since 2022.
• PSDP Multi-Year Allocations: Funding under the Public Sector Development Programme continues a steady upward trajectory:
  • FY 2024–25: Rs 132.851 billion
  • FY 2025–26: Rs 150.4 billion
  • FY 2026–27: Rs 157.5 billion

3. Energy Grid Upgrades & Hydropower Drive

To address persistent regional power shortages, the federal government is prioritizing significant capital investments in clean energy generation and grid expansion:

• Regional Grid GB (Phase-I): The Rs 9.1 billion power transmission upgrade project is advancing steadily to improve regional power delivery and stability.
• 100 MW Distributed Solar Project: Work is underway on the Rs 24.9 billion Distributed Solar Photovoltaic (DPV) initiative to significantly expand clean solar generation capacity.
• Hydropower via Public-Private Partnerships: Recognizing Gilgit-Baltistan’s vast hydro potential, a joint committee led by the Power Division and the Ministry of Water Resources has been established to accelerate hydropower projects through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and mobilize private investment.

4. Operational Oversight & Execution

To eliminate administrative bottlenecks and accelerate execution, a dedicated monitoring panel under the Secretary of Planning will regularly review ongoing projects to ensure high-impact delivery within stipulated timelines.

The Federal Government reaffirmed its long-term commitment to advancing inclusive economic growth in Gilgit-Baltistan through sustainable development, structural reforms, and strategic infrastructure investment.